And then there’s Caroline Henry. who is an expert on Champagne’s terroir, and the region’s organic and biodynamic wines. Caroline introduced me to the wines of Francoise Bedel, the first biodynamic female winemaker in Champagne. You can order Caroline’s book Terroir Champagne: the Luxury of Sustainable, Organic and Biodynamic Cuvees atTerroirchampagne.com, where she will confirm your order and ask if you want it dedicated; all 3000 books are signed and numbered and are printed on recycled paper.

I opened the book about the Widow Cliquot by Tilar J. Mazzeoby and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot for International Women’s Day, and then took both on a campout to Refugio State Beach where I paired the wine with raw oysters, halibut and pesto: fabulous! Exactly what you’d think of when you think CHAMPAGNE.

Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin was born in Reims, in the heart of Champagne, and grew up in a wealthy influential family where her father served as mayor as appointed by Napoleon. At 21, she married François Clicquot. Together they managed various businesses including a champagne house until he died six years later leaving her a widow (or veuve in French) and leaving her in control.

In The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It, Tilar J. Mazzeo writes: “Widowed at the age of twenty-seven, with no formal business training and no firsthand experience, Barbe-Nicole transformed a well-funded but struggling and small-time family wine brokerage into arguably the most important champagne house of the nineteenth century in just over a decade.”

Under her direction, Champagne moved from being an icy sweet slurp of a beverage with bubbles like “toad’s eyes” to something that it is more similar to the beverage we know and love today.

The widow is also credited with inspiring the strategy of sabering to open a bottle of sparkling wines. As Tilar J. Mazzeo tells it, “The French troops wasted no time in celebrating their victory, either. There is a legend, in fact, that it was during these days that the art of sabrage—opening champagne bottles with military sabers—was invented. According to the story, “Madame Clicquot…in order to have her land protected, gave Napoléon’s officers Champagne and glasses. Being on their horses, they couldn’t hold the glass while opening the bottle.” So they lopped off the necks of the bottles with their swords, and sabrage was born.”

A few days after my visit with the Widow, Sue and I opened a bottle of AR Lenoble that had came highly recommended to me by a somm I knew who was also at the WineHouse LA.

AR Lenoble is a company 100% family owned and managed by Anne Mallasagne and her brother Antoine. For the past 25 years or so, they’ve transformed the business with Antoine focused on the vineyards and the winemaking while Anne does administrative management and communication.

According to an article A Glass of Bubbly, “the group does not seek to promote their individual wines or brands, though the quality across the board is superlative, even by the strict standards in Champagne. “It’s not a comparison, it’s a cooperation,” said Mallasagne. “We want to create a space for women in the industry.”

“We share tradition, value, quality, and story telling,” she continued.”

The diverse members include a veritable who’s who of houses great and small worth learning more about and tasting. In addition to Anne Malassagne and co-founder Vitalie Taittinger, the other members of the group of ten women are:

Alice Paillard (Champagne Bruno Paillard),

Maggie Henriquez (Champagne Krug),

Floriane Eznack (Champagne Jacquart),

Delphine Cazals (Champagne Claude Cazals),

Evelyne Boizel (Champagne Boizel),

Chantal Gonet (Champagne Philippe Gonet),

Mélanie Tarlant (Champagne Tarlant),

Marie Gillet (Champagne Veuve Devaux).

AR Lenoble 12% alcohol – SRP $40

Appearance: Light gold, delicate persistent bubbles

Nose: Earthy funk, yeast, sourdough, fermented grapes; it smells like you are deep in a wine cellar. Much of the funk blew off quickly; perhaps I’ve had the bottle a little longer than it should — I think I bought it three years ago and MOST Champagne is made to be enjoyed soon after purchase as I learned with a bottle of Cristal that I held for a few too many years…

Palate: You would never think this was anything but Champagne– it’s a benchmark for your palate. A very interesting and engaging wine, it is definitely worthy of attention and not just a toast. This wine is very yeasty in style, there are no subtle flavors or smells.

Pairing: So wonderful with caviar; we imagine it would be perfect with oysters as well. Sue didn’t want to leave this part of the meal. Caviar, like oysters, are not that expensive. Sue found the caviar at Grocery Outlet for $2.99. You can also find it at Cost Plus for an affordable price. It may not be the same quality of super expensive caviar, but when it comes right down to it, the taste is amazing when paired with the champagne and can be affordable. Also very nice with a fresh goat cheese and we enjoyed the salad with it also.

I wasn’t too sure if I was going to like the fennel and fish packets because I don’t like licorice but it was a hit: the fennel cooked is more subtle, like fennel pollen. Sue also used some leftover chanterelles I brought home from my lunch the day before at Industrial Eats in Buellton, and I definitely preferred it this way.

These parchment packets are so fun and easy to prepare, says Sue; the fish stays so moist and delicious; It is a must try recipe for fish lovers.

For one fish packet, Sue sliced some fresh fennel and lemons and placed them on the bottom of the parchment paper, She lightly salt and peppered both sides of the fish and placed it on top of the bed of fennel and lemon, then put two to three thing slices of butter on top with a tablespoon of white wine. fold the parchment paper on the top, then fold in both ends. Cook in a 400 degree oven for 12 to 18 minutes.

Of course, buying a fish right off the boat and having the fisherman clean it for me makes for some fabulous fresh fish no matter how we prepare it!

We served the fish on a bed of brown and wild rice along with a green salad with fresh fennel, goat cheese, tangerines, and sunflower seeds with a garlic balsamic vinegar.

So what are the other Winophiles up to? Check out these posts — and you’re inked to join our 8am Pacific Saturday chat using the hashtag #Winophiles.

Thank you! Yes when we decided to go camping I knew I’d get some good wine and food photos! Too bad it was too dark when the fish was cooked– the time changed that night! . I thought I was going to get more reading done but a bit cold, rainy, and again lost an hour due to the time change.

Thank you! I’m still reading the book and looking forward to learning more. My goal is to read a book a month about wine and connect it to a blog post! I thought about Caroline’s book but decided instead to do the Widow and her wine with food.

Wine Predator Gwendolyn Alley

After starting my Art Predator blog November 2007, I began Wine Predator and attended the First Wine Bloggers Conference in Sonoma in 2008, followed by the second in 2009.

In November 2009, I went to the European Wine Bloggers Conference then to the Alentejo Region of Portugal on a wine tour sponsored by Enoforum WInes.

In 2010, I won a scholarship to attend the Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla as well as a pre-conference trip to learn more about Washington wine.

In 2011, I explored by VW van the wine regions of the Northwest: Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Northern California. I also spoke about wine and food pairing at the International Food Bloggers Conference in Santa Monica.

In 2012, I participated in the Wine Bloggers Conference in Portland where I gave an Ignite!Wine presentation.

In 2013 I won a scholarship to attend the Wine Bloggers Conference in Penticton, Canada; I also participated in a press trip to Lake Chelan, Washington.

In 2014, I attended WBC14 in Santa Barbara and the Wine Tourism Conference in Paso Robles, CA.

In 2015, I continued my wine education by attending numerous industry events in LA as well as participating in various online tasting events with wines from around the world.

In 2016, I presented at both the International Food Bloggers Conference in Sacramento and the Wine Bloggers Conference in Lodi (where I was the concluding speaker of the conference).

In 2017, i published over 100 posts, many with an emphasis on food and wine pairings. I attended the International Food Bloggers Conference in Sacramento and the Wine Bloggers Conference in Santa Rosa. Press trips took me to LA, Lodi, San Luis Obispo, Napa, Lake, El Dorado, and Mendocino counties.

Areas of interest and expertise include food, wine, travel, geography, and culture. I have undergraduate degrees in Literature/Creative Writing and Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz, and graduate degrees in Education, English, and Ecopsychology.

Who knows where I will prowl next? Invite me to your neck of the woods! Need help with writing? I'm your gal on the prowl! You can reach me by email: gwendolynalley AT yahoo DOT com.

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